SOUTHDOWN BUSES: E.C.W. bodied BRiStols

As part of the National Bus Company, along with other former B.E.T. fleets, Southdown took delivery of standard Bristol/E.C.W. products, initially in traditional livery until the corporate colour scheme was imposed. The Bristol VR was to become the standard double decker, in both single and dual-door form, amassing in excess of 200 examples.

UPPER VIEW, LEFT: no. 503 is seen climbing Lewes High Street in April 1971.

UPPER VIEW, RIGHT: no. 509 is seen in Newick Road, Lewes, also in April 1971.

LOWER VIEW, LEFT: no. 514 is seen loading passengers in Lewes Bus Station, April 1973. The gold block fleetname has been replaced by the N.B.C. fleetname and logo by this time.

In contrast to the VR, only three examples of the E.C.W. bodied Bristol RELL were to enter the Southdown fleet in 1971, all fitted with Leyland O.680 engines. Pictured LOWER VIEW, RIGHT, is numerically the first of the three RELL6Ls, no. 601, in Pool Valley, Brighton, in April 1972. By mistake the Mackenzie-script style fleetnames had been placed horizontally on these vehicles.